MetaChat - Ask MeCha: What phrases have you lifted from your friends?

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22 October 2006

Ask MeCha: What phrases have you lifted from your friends? I've two that now live in my own unconscious arsenal of catch phrases, one from a dead reporter and one from an ex-policeman.→[More:]

Tom, the dead investigative reporter, referred to "the ten thousand pound shit-hammer." He had Parkinson's and a bum heart. He once wrote an article about what the nuclear destruction would look like if a bomb hit Dayton, Ohio.

The ten thousand pound shit-hammer is when something horrible happens, like losing your job or getting Parkinson's disease. Or just a completely fucked day.

Tony, the ex-policeman, referred to money as 'ducats.' I've taken over this one as well, but I don't use it all the time like he does.

post by: By the Grace of God at: 07:06 | 7 comments

I have been using "take a flyer" to describe when someone does something big on faith, like quit a job they hate when they have nothing else lined up, or moving across country, or daring to do something you didn't think you could. Miko says "take a flyer" often, and I like it.

Another one is "give 'em some smacks", to describe giving someone money. I love that one, got it from Bill Belichek, NFL head coach on PATRIOTS! ALL ACCESS! last night.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 22 October | 08:24

I was at a history conference last week and one of the presenters on my panel used the phrase "rustic fucking." (He was talking about the stereotyped image of 1830s fur trade rendezvous.) I really want to steal this phrase and work it into my daily conversation, but the opportunities do not present themselves as I'd like.

posted by LarryC 22 October | 10:51

the ten thousand pound shit hammer shows up in hunter thompson.

posted by sam 22 October | 11:49

I tend to use "Brilliant!" from the beer commercial in a very sarcastic fashion.

posted by redvixen 22 October | 17:48

I had a friend who would pull out "If it was up your ass, you'd know that" anytime you asked him where anything was. Like your keys. Or, say, Asia.

posted by trondant 22 October | 23:46

When someone drops something, like a fork, it tickles me to say "If you don't like that fork, just throw it on the floor." A friend once said it to me and I giggled for days. Now I say it to others, they roll their eyes, and I giggle for days.

From my friend Tammy, I stole "This is why we can't have nice things." Use this whenever anyone spills or breaks something.

"Rustic fucking" reminds me of "rusticating," which is 30s hepcat for taling a vacation in the country. I stole that not from a friend, but from Bing Crosby.

posted by Miko 23 October | 09:14

"It's a world gone mad," from Norm on Cheers. Whenever someone is musing over a minor injustice or something. . I'll trot this one out. . .it's about time to retire it but my wife can get into these snits about some of the crazy but minor stuff about modern life, and this phrase from me tends to shorten the conversation. . .

posted by danf 23 October | 09:46

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